UT System Board of Regents launches national search for next President of UT Dallas; offers opportunity for input

AUSTIN, TX – The University of Texas (UT) System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife recently announced the appointment of a search advisory committee to support the regents and chancellor on selecting the next president of The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). 

Additionally, the UT System has launched a dedicated website at https://www.utsystem.edu/utdallas-presidential-search to provide the public with information about the search, including a regularly updated timeline of search activities and a portal for the university community and members of the public to submit candidate nominations confidentially.

UT Dallas President Richard Benson recently announced his plan to step down and transition to a faculty role at UTD following the 2024-2025 academic year, concluding nine years of exceptional leadership in which the university has experienced significant increases in research expenditures, enrollment and graduation rates.

“The University of Texas at Dallas continues a remarkable trajectory as a leading state and national university, marked by unprecedented growth in research, groundbreaking campus expansions, and a commitment to excellence in all disciplines of study,” Eltife said. “As we look ahead, the Board of Regents is focused on building upon this strong foundation and is eager to select a successor to President Benson who will propel UTD forward with the same level of forward movement,” he added.

UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken, who will chair the UT Dallas presidential search advisory committee, emphasized the significance of this search as a pivotal moment in maximizing its future.

 “UT Dallas is a premier university in Texas and a highly regarded rising star on the national stage. We plan to identify leaders who can harness the significant opportunities before us. The insights and deep commitment of the search advisory committee will be invaluable in this process,” said Milliken.

Search advisory committee members were appointed in accordance with Board of Regents’ Rules and Regulations, including a provision for representation by various constituencies that are both internal and external to the institution. This includes faculty, administration, alumni, students, and community members.

Representation on the UT Dallas Presidential Search Advisory Committee includes:

Committee Chair:

  • James B. Milliken, UT System Chancellor

UT System Board of Regents

  • Stuart W. Stedman, Regent
  • Christina Melton Crain, Regent
  • Robert P. Gauntt, Regent

UT System

  • Archie Holmes, Ph.D., Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

UT Institution Presidents

  • Daniel Podolsky, M.D., President, UT Southwestern Medical Center
  • Heather Wilson, Ph.D., President, UT El Paso

UTD Staff

  • Heather Oltmann, MPA, Administrative Services Officer II, Department of Biological Sciences

UTD Student

  • Devin Schwartz, Student Government President

UTD Faculty

  • Michael Kesden, Ph.D., Professor of Physics, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  • Amy Walker, Ph.D., Professor of Materials Science & Engineering, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science
  • Sarah Moore, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Instruction, Organizations, Strategy and International Management, Naveen Jindal School of Management

UTD Dean

  • Hasan Pirkul, Ph.D., Dean, Naveen Jindal School of Management

UTD Alumnus

  • John Olajide, Founder and Chairman, Cavista Holdings

Community Members

  • Arun Agarwal, CEO, Nextt/Nexxt Shield
  • Peter Balyta, Ph.D., president of educational technology, Texas Instruments
  • Mike Calhoun, president and trustee, Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation

About The University of Texas System

With 14 institutions that enroll over 256,000 students overall, the UT System is the largest university system in Texas and one of the largest public university systems in the United States. UT institutions produced over 66,000 graduates last year and awarded more than one-third of the undergraduate degrees in Texas. They also educate more than one-half of the state’s health care professionals and award 63% of the state's medical degrees annually. The combined efforts of UT-owned and affiliated hospitals and clinics resulted in nearly 10.8 million outpatient visits and more than 2.1 million hospital days in 2023. UT’s $4.3 billion research enterprise is one of the nation’s most innovative, ranking No. 1 in Texas and No. 2 in the U.S. for both total and federal research expenditures. With an operating budget of $32 billion for fiscal year 2025, UT institutions collectively employ more than 160,000 faculty, health care professionals, support staff and students.

News Contact Information

Jeff Caplan: jcaplan@utsystem.edu • 512-499-4784 (direct)